Penn State News - Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studieshttp://www.psu.edu/
en-usPenn State University Relationsnews@psu.edu (Penn State News)Road research center receives environmental quality awardhttp://news.psu.edu/story/276948/2013/05/14/campus-life/road-research-center-receives-environmental-quality-award
The Thomas D. Larson Pennsylvania Transportation Institute's Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies at Penn State was selected by the Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Professionals (PAEP) to receive the 2013 Karl Mason Environmental Stewardship Award. The award was presented at the PAEP award banquet on May 9, at the Toftrees Golf Resort and Conference Center in State College, Pa.
http://news.psu.edu/story/276948/2013/05/14/campus-life/road-research-center-receives-environmental-quality-awardTue, 14 May 2013 10:57 -0400Penn State News - Center for Dirt and Gravel Road StudiesRural road maintenance may accidentally push spread of invasive plantshttp://news.psu.edu/story/156386/2011/08/11/rural-road-maintenance-may-accidentally-push-spread-invasive-plants
Road maintenance may accidentally spread the seeds of invasive plants, according to Penn State researchers. "The road graders that are used during these operations can act like a plow, pushing seeds along the road," said Emily Rauschert, senior project associate and applied ecologist in crop and soil sciences. "They can pick up seeds of an invasive grass and spread them several orders of magnitude further than the natural dispersal." The researchers created a computer simulation based on field experiments that showed how road regrading in the spring could play a role in the rapid spread of Japanese stilt grass -- an invasive plant that can grow up to 5 feet tall -- in the Rothrock State Forest area. The plant is considered a threat because its dense growth can prevent trees and native plants from growing. "Initially, this plant wasn't present locally," Rauschert said. "But within 10 years or so foresters noticed that the plant had spread throughout the area."
http://news.psu.edu/story/156386/2011/08/11/rural-road-maintenance-may-accidentally-push-spread-invasive-plantsThu, 11 Aug 2011 09:30 -0400Penn State News - Center for Dirt and Gravel Road StudiesWhere the Rubber Makes the Roadhttp://news.psu.edu/story/141747/2006/07/31/research/where-rubber-makes-road
What happens to old waste tires? Pennsylvania has recycled nearly 26 million, but there are millions more to go.
http://news.psu.edu/story/141747/2006/07/31/research/where-rubber-makes-roadMon, 31 Jul 2006 (All day) -0400Penn State News - Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies